ASIA CUP 2025: India Hold Nerve in Super Over, Break Sri Lankan Hearts in Colombo

Ray Sportz Web Desk: Cricket fans at the R. Premadasa Stadium witnessed a rollercoaster contest on Thursday night as India survived a stunning century from Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka to clinch a nail-biting victory in a Super Over. The match had everything — explosive batting, momentum swings, and a nerve-wracking finish that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.

Put in to bat, India got off to a solid start before losing a couple of quick wickets. The middle order steadied the innings, with quickfire cameos from the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant pushing India to a competitive 202 for 6 at the end of 20 overs. The total looked challenging, but far from out of reach on a batting-friendly surface.

Sri Lanka’s reply was anchored by opener Pathum Nissanka, who produced one of the finest knocks of his career. His elegant strokeplay and controlled aggression frustrated the Indian bowlers as he kept the hosts in the hunt. Wickets kept falling at the other end, but Nissanka held firm, bringing up a scintillating century. With the equation narrowing to 12 runs off the final over, Sri Lanka fought till the very last ball — levelling the scores and forcing a dramatic Super Over.

In the one-over eliminator, India’s Jasprit Bumrah delivered a brilliant spell of death bowling, conceding just two runs and picking up both Sri Lankan wickets. The pressure was too much for the home side to handle. Chasing three to win, India wasted no time as their opener smashed the very first ball past point to complete the job, sparking wild celebrations among players and travelling fans.

The victory not only secures India’s place at the top of the table but also sends them into the upcoming Asia Cup final against arch-rivals Pakistan with huge confidence. For Sri Lanka, it was a cruel result — despite Nissanka’s heroic 107, they were left empty-handed, a bitter pill for the home crowd to swallow.

As the teams prepare for the final showdown, Thursday’s match will be remembered as one of the most dramatic India–Sri Lanka encounters in recent memory — a reminder that in T20 cricket, even 240 balls aren’t always enough to separate two determined sides.